June

August

Chiltern new franchise - contract award expected.

September

~ Govia Thameslink Railway management contract due to end (eligible for up to 26 additional 'reporting periods' extension)
~ TransPennine Express new franchise - notice expected in the Official Journal of the European Union/Expressions of Interest invited from bidders.

December 2021

Chiltern Railways franchise due to end (eligible for up to 7 additional 'reporting periods' extension); Chiltern new franchise due to commence.

February 2022

TransPennine Express new franchise - Invitation To Tender expected to be issued to short-listed bidders.

April

ScotRail franchise due to end (eligible for up to three years extension)

October

South Western new franchise - submission of Passport Application/Pre-Qualification Questionnaire for non-passport holders expected.

December 2022

New TransPennine Express franchise operator due to be announced.

2023

Access rights for Heathrow Express to London Heathrow Airport Terminals 2/3 and 5 due to expire.

January

South Western new franchise - Expressions of Interest expected to be invited from bidders.

April

TransPennine Express franchise due to end (eligible for up to 26 additional 'reporting periods' extension)

May

Transport for London 8-year concession for MTR Crossrail/Elizabeth line (potential for 2-year extension) due to end/start of next concession expected.

June

~ Northern new franchise - submission of Passport Application/Pre-Qualification Questionnaire for non-passport holders expected.
~ South Western new franchise Invitation To Tender expected.

September

Northern new franchise - notice expected in the Official Journal of the European Union/Expressions of Interest invited from bidders.

December 2023

February 2024

Northern new franchise - Invitation To Tender expected to be issued to short-listed bidders.

March

East Anglia new franchise - Expressions of Interest expected to be invited from bidders.

April

South Western new franchise award expected.

May

Transport for London 7.5-year concession for London Overground (potential for 2-year extension) due to end/start of next concession expected.

August

~ First/MTR South Western franchise due to expire (up to 11 additional reporting periods available at Secretary of State's discretion), new South Western franchise due to commence.
~ East Anglia new franchise - Invitation To Tender expected.

December 2024

New Northern franchise operator due to be announced.

April 2025

Northern franchise due to end (eligible for up to 13 additional 'reporting periods' extension)

May

Latest possible end/start of Transport for London Elizabeth line operating concession.

June

New East Anglia franchise operator due to be announced.

October 2025

Greater Anglia franchise due to end (eligible for up to 13 additional 'reporting periods' extension at Secretary of State's discretion), new East Anglia franchise due to commence.

May 2026

Latest possible end/start of Transport for London operating concession for London Overground.

2028

Merseyrail concession due for renewal.

November 2029

Essex Thameside franchise due to end (eligible for up to 7 additional 'reporting periods' extension at Secretary of State's discretion)

March

Latest month in which ORR publishes Network Rail’s revised network licence following completion of statutory consultation, confirms and publishes enforcement policy for CP6, and publishes final version of document ‘Enhancements in control period 6: Roles and responsibilities’. More info: Periodic Review 2018 (PR18) timetable and process - V2.0, October 2018

Various

April

May

19 May 2019. Sunday. Penultimate phase of Thameslink Programme timetable implementation. All but two Thameslink services linked across and running through central London core to provide continuous journeys between north and south, as final infrastructure upgrades completed and full benefits of Thameslink Programme being realised.

20 May 2019. Monday. Opening of new Lea Valley line station at Meridian Water, replacing Angel Road. More info: LV-MW

December

8 December 2019. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

8 December 2019. Sunday. Opening of new half-hourly Lea Valley line service between Meridian Water and Stratford via Tottenham Hale. More info: LV-MW

8 December 2019. Sunday. Completion of final phase of Thameslink Programme timetable implementation. All Thameslink services planned to be linked across and running through central London core to provide continuous journeys between north and south, as all final infrastructure upgrades completed and full benefits of Thameslink Programme realised.

31 December 2019. Final date for rail vehicles to comply with accessibility regulations. More info: ORR and DfT

2020

May

7 May 2020. Thursday. UK local elections.

17 May 2020. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

13 December 2020. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

2021

May

6 May 2021. Thursday. UK local elections.

16 May 2021. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

November

Start of extended services on Northern line to Battersea Power Station, via Kennington and Nine Elms. More info: NLE